Hello!

I am having a small problem with my Volvo 960 - the left side directional light is non-functional. The front and rear (the larger lights) and the right side directional lights all work.
I first suspected the small light bulb, but the problem persisted when I changed to a new one.

So, I grabbed my current and voltage meters to get some readings. While active, the potential varies between 3-6 volts when the left directional indicator is switched on. I know the bulb is designed for 12 volts, and I know the voltage meter takes averages and shows around 6 volts (time average), so the voltage level seems fine.

What is more confusing is the current. There seems to be no current running through the wires when short-circuiting it through the current meter. It shows a steady 300 microamps, which is next to nothing.

Any ideas?

 

Check your ground wire for the lamp assembly...even if it looks secure, loosen it, clean and retighten.

 

Thanks for the response!

The ground wire you say?
As far as I can see, the lamp assembly itself doesn't have a grounding wire, only two wires for electric potential. It don't know if you have a 960 yourself, or if the design in your car is the same, but it's the kind where you push the lamp holder along the chassis and then out, which triggers the plastic spring and the entire plastic assembly comes out.
I wish I had a camera to take a picture.

It seems like the problem was water. I'd recently used a high-pressure manual car wash, and some of the water had entered the directional light assembly in one way or another. Fortunately, due to the recent warm weather here in Sweden, it seems to have dried up, and the problem vanished along with the water (I checked an extra time).

I'll get back here if the problem arises again, but thanks for the help!

 

Pretty sure you need a ground to make lighting work on a car w/ 12V DC...glad to hear it's working for the time being.